Once the late leader’s trusted chef, Mr. Fujimoto abandoned North Korea and his family there in 2001, returning to Japan to write a book about his life and times with Mr. Kim–and take on a pseudonym out of security concerns.

But on an emotional day in the summer, Mr. Fujimoto said he was visited by a “messenger” who said North Korea’s new leader, Kim Jong Eun, wanted him to travel to Pyongyang to see him.

While it was difficult to tell whether Mr. Fujimoto was genuinely crying or just sniffling behind his sunglasses, it was evident that Mr. Fujimoto still feels a strong sense of loyalty to the Kim family.

Mr. Fujimoto was speaking to reporters in Tokyo on Thursday about his recent visit to North Korea and his new book chronicling his experiences in the secretive nation.

He also said the North’s planned launch of a long-range rocket this month is in commemoration of the late Mr. Kim, and predicted it would take place on Dec. 17, the date of his death. The former chef added that despite its provocative military exercises in apparent defiance of international appeals, Pyongyang wanted to improve relations with the West.

“While it seems as if North Korea and the U.S. are in an adversarial relationship, the nation wants to repair ties and clasp hands,” he said.

Mr. Fujimoto, who served as Kim Jong Il’s sushi chef from 1988 to 2001, is believed to be the first Japanese national to have met Kim Jong Eun since he took the helm of the regime after his father’s death. In memoirs he has published in the past, Mr. Fujimoto said he played with the younger Mr. Kim when he was still a little boy.

During his recent visit from late July to early August, Mr. Fujimoto said he hugged Mr. Kim during a banquet that was hosted in his honor, and also met Mr. Kim’s wife, Ri Sol Ju, as well as his close aide Jang Song Thaek.

He also shed light on which year Mr. Kim was born, a detail that has yet to be confirmed.

“Mr. Kim Jong Eun is 29 years old. He was born on Jan. 8, 1983, and will be in his thirties next year,” he said.

Mr. Fujimoto said he visited Pyongyang to fulfill a promise he made to Kim Jong Eun 11 years ago.

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